There are many ways to start a new year.
A lot of people start by creating mental resolutions of all the things they would like to change and achieve, and some just drag the old year along with them.
I am not a big fan of New Year’s resolutions myself but I do believe in ‘New’ as in God is making all things new, and He has started a new project in all of us through Jesus Christ.
So instead of asking, “what does the new year hold for me?”, rather let “what new change is God bringing about inside of me?” be the question unto yourself.
And the truth is, God is making us into someone amazing. Someone who is hopeful, purposeful and is responsive.
I would like to share two things to get our focus right in 2023: perspective and expectation. These are two outlooks we can live from. One is from the reality around us, and the other is our reality based on God’s word about us.
The reality around us can shout negativity, hopelessness and loss. But truth will highlight what is available inside of you.
Two examples in the bible highlight this to us.
The nation of Israel being set free from 400 years of slavery, find themselves as free people and on a journey, being led by Moses and God.
All their needs are met, they have security and are on their way to the land of their dreams.
But internally they could not dream of a land flowing with milk and honey because they were imprisoned in their minds, so they died in the desert and never got to experience all that God had planned for them.
The opposite is true in another example, where we see Paul the Apostle and Silas imprisoned for performing good deeds.
Even though their circumstances and prison cell dictated constraint and confinement, in their hearts they remained free.
Their inner world was not influenced and we see their praise and prayer release the power of God to shake the prison, resulting in an opportunity for prisoners to run free.
And yet they did not escape.
They looked beyond themselves and to the well-being of the prison guard. The end result was the prison guard and his family coming to know Christ and His goodness.
The Apostle Paul did not count his prison (circumstances and restrictions) as a reason to not live in freedom, and his mindset (inner perspective) led to the majority of the New Testament writings and the influence of millions of lives down the generations.
Perspective is everything. From our perspectives we create expectations, and I want to encourage you to expect great things.
God did not create us to live small, meaningless lives.
He destined us to be conformed to the pattern of his Son, Jesus.
Which basically means that our lives are meant to reflect something of wonder and awe. We should be living, fully alive, knowing why we are here and making a difference in the process.
May the Holy Spirit lead us as individuals, families and community members in 2023, to do great things and seewitness miraculous change.
) Pastor EmmanuelArchontakis is of KingdomMinistries of Christ
